The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Tinubu for “turning his condolence visit to Benue into a fanfare”.
In a post on Thursday via X, Obi said the president’s choice of attire and the atmosphere around his visit did not reflect the gravity of the tragedies that struck Benue and Niger states.
“We pleaded that the president should show leadership and visit Benue and Niger states in the spirit of deep national mourning, to offer compassion and solidarity to families torn apart by the senseless massacre of over 200 innocent Nigerians in Benue state and flooding that killed similar number in Niger state,” Obi said.
“But what we saw in Benue visit was instead of a solemn, reflective visit, a display that would have been more befitting for the commissioning of reconstructed Enugu-Makurdi highway, a critical road connecting South and Northern Nigeria which had become impassable for years.”
Obi said Tinubu’s attire — a traditional flowing wear called ‘agbada’ — was celebratory and inappropriate for the occasion.
“The president arrived not in mourning cloth but in celebratory agbada attire, like it was an occasion for joy,” he said.
He faulted the Benue state government for declaring a public holiday and shutting down schools “not for reflection or prayer, but to organise fanfare”.
“Children who should be mourning their slaughtered classmates and parents were instead lined up under the rain, rehearsed to sing and dance for the president,” he added.
“In what kind of country does this happen?”
‘A CHARADE’
The former Anambra governor described the entire event as a “charade”.
“We have tragically arrived at a point where condolence visits have become carnivals,” he said.
“A time that should be marked by silence and solemnity is now polluted by banners, music, and rehearsed spectacles.
“Precious Nigerian lives have been lost, yet we’re clapping, singing, and organising processions, as though this were a campaign rally.”
He said the resources committed to the president’s visit could have been used to provide relief to the victims.
“The energy, resources, and logistics poured into this charade could have gone into food supplies, temporary shelters, medical aid, school support, and trauma counselling for grieving families. Instead, we chose optics over empathy,” he said.
Obi juxtaposed Tinubu’s conduct on the day to how Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa and Narendra Modi of India behaved during recent visits to tragedy-hit communities.
“When President Ramaphosa visited Mthatha after the floods in South Africa, there were no drums. No staged crowds. No rented cheers. Just presence, silence, and action,” he said.
“When Prime Minister Modi went to the site of a crash, no one lined up to welcome him. He came, he mourned, he acted. That is what leadership looks like in moments of pain.”
He said Nigeria has become desensitised to mass killings and accused the government of lacking compassion.
“We are not at war yet our nation is bleeding, and we are clapping. It is not only insensitive, it is dangerous,” Obi added.
“Let us not forget: these were human beings, children, mothers, fathers whose blood cries out for justice.
“When very sad incidents like this turn to campaign or festival, our nation is losing its soul.”
On Wednesday, Tinubu said he will work with Hyacinth Alia, governor of Benue, to restore peace in the state.
Speaking during a town hall meeting with political and traditional leaders in Makurdi, the Benue capital, Tinubu said Alia was not elected to preside over tragedy.
“You’re elected under the progressive banner to ensure there’s peace, stability, and progress so that we can come and commission projects, rejoice with you on progress, value, and things of joy,” Tinubu told Alia.
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